A Massillon man sat with his Mega Millions tickets Monday at the Corner Store on Lincoln Way E. He held two.

"It only takes one to win, though," Frank Millin said.

The jackpot had grown to $586 million by Monday evening — not quite the record $656 million jackpot from last year, but a hefty prize nonetheless. The odds of winning were one in 258,890,850, according to the Ohio Lottery's website.

Millin has played at the Perry Township store whenever there has been a substantial jackpot for the past 15 years. If one of his two tickets makes him a winner tonight, he said, he will give his winnings to family, Massillon's Little League and other charities.

"I would help a lot of people," Millin said.

He was one of many who chose to play the odds Monday.

Neil Patel, owner of the Corner Store, bought $30 worth of tickets himself and said if he wins, the store will be closed tomorrow.

Paula Otto, executive director of the Virginia Lottery and Mega Millions' lead director, said ticket sales are ahead of projections for tonight's drawing, increasing the likelihood that the record could fall by then. If the prize goes unclaimed for a 22nd consecutive drawing, the next one likely would shatter the record, set in March 2012, she said.

"I think we'll be very close to the record, and maybe even surpass it," Otto said, adding that sales are difficult to predict.

Between 65 and 70 percent of the roughly 259 million possible number combinations will be in play when the numbers are drawn, Otto estimated. She said the jackpot may be increased one more time this morning in advance of the evening drawing.

"Lotto players are procrastinators. They tend to buy on the day of the draw," she said.

No ticket matched the six numbers needed to win Friday's $425 million prize. The jackpot was raised Saturday to $550 million before Monday's jump to $586 million. It is currently the fourth-largest jackpot in U.S. history.

Ron Wagner, cashier at the Woodlawn Market in Jackson Township, said about 300 people had come in for tickets by Monday, but he, too, expected a rush today.

'They come and go all day," Wagner said.

While the owner and patrons contended each store was "lucky," a sign dubs Woodlawn Market the "lucky lottery store." That's why Carl Cushmann said he buys his Lotto tickets from the Woodlawn Avenue NW convenience shop.

Regardless, the avid lottery player said, the only way to win the hundreds of millions is by joining other hopefuls.

"If you don't have a ticket, you don't have a chance," he said.

Page 2 of 2 - Cushmann said he had no specific purchases in mind, but simply would buy anything he wanted if he wins.